Concert review March 2010
Our Concert on 27th March was reviewed in the Bucks Herald and the review is reproduced here:
CLAUDIO Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers were impressively performed in the Atrium
of Aylesbury College on Saturday March 27 by the Aylesbury Choral Society.
The choir was joined by the Gonzaga Band, formed by Jamie Savan to explore
the performance of music of the 16th and 17th centuries. The ensemble takes its
name from the ruling family of Mantua, who had employed Monteverdi for some
years, and includes some of the best musicians on the early music scene.
Playing period instruments such as cornetts, sackbuts and a theorbo, their
accompaniment throughout was superb, producing a rich sound that enhanced the
overall impact.
Some scholars have theorised that the Vespers were a kind of music
would lead to a career change for the composer: its publication certainly
resulted in a move to Venice where Monteverdi spent the rest of his life.
The Vespers, or Vespro Della Beata Vergine, were also almost certainly not intended to be performed end to end, but more of a pick and mix collection to be used in liturgy as occasion demanded. After centuries of neglect, its intricate sound world has now become a favourite of the concert hall and the recording industry.
Saturday’s performance included six soloists who sang in different combinations with each other and with the choir. All were outstanding, but sopranos Faye Newton and Gill Ross in the delightful Pulchra Es and other pieces were particularly impressive. All had a chance to shine in the complex interweavings of Lauda Jerusalem.
This is an extremely ambitious piece for amateur choirs, but under the expert direction of Peter Leech, Aylesbury Choral Society gave a tremendous performance that was hugely enjoyed by the packed audience.
During the interval, certificates were given to a number of long-standing members, including tenor Roy Spinks, who has sung with the choir for 50 years.
CLAUDIO Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers were impressively performed in the Atrium
of Aylesbury College on Saturday March 27 by the Aylesbury Choral Society.
The choir was joined by the Gonzaga Band, formed by Jamie Savan to explore
the performance of music of the 16th and 17th centuries. The ensemble takes its
name from the ruling family of Mantua, who had employed Monteverdi for some
years, and includes some of the best musicians on the early music scene.
Playing period instruments such as cornetts, sackbuts and a theorbo, their
accompaniment throughout was superb, producing a rich sound that enhanced the
overall impact.
Some scholars have theorised that the Vespers were a kind of music
would lead to a career change for the composer: its publication certainly
resulted in a move to Venice where Monteverdi spent the rest of his life.
The Vespers, or Vespro Della Beata Vergine, were also almost certainly not intended to be performed end to end, but more of a pick and mix collection to be used in liturgy as occasion demanded. After centuries of neglect, its intricate sound world has now become a favourite of the concert hall and the recording industry.
Saturday’s performance included six soloists who sang in different combinations with each other and with the choir. All were outstanding, but sopranos Faye Newton and Gill Ross in the delightful Pulchra Es and other pieces were particularly impressive. All had a chance to shine in the complex interweavings of Lauda Jerusalem.
This is an extremely ambitious piece for amateur choirs, but under the expert direction of Peter Leech, Aylesbury Choral Society gave a tremendous performance that was hugely enjoyed by the packed audience.
During the interval, certificates were given to a number of long-standing members, including tenor Roy Spinks, who has sung with the choir for 50 years.